How life has changed in Ipswich

Ipswich's population increased by about 16,300 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population passed 130,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Ipswich increased by 13.9%, from about 117,000 to 133,000.

The addition of just over 16,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Ipswich was home to, on average, 24 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Ipswich

Latest census data also show that the median age of Ipswich remained 36 years in the decade to 2011.

This area had a lower average age than Eastof England and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 4,500 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by almost 500.

About 15.0% of people in Ipswich are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Ipswich by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Ipswich

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in Ipswich, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 15.4 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 37.7% of respondents in Ipswich said they had no religion, up from 22.4% in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.2% to 30.0%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 57.2% of respondents in Ipswich said they were Christian, down from 74.9% in 2001. About 2.9% said they were Muslim, up from 1.4% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Ipswich increased by 15 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, East and Ipswich by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Ipswich, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.5% to 12.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage that had only one person remained close to 32.4%, while the percentage of households in Ipswich which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 33.7% to 30.8%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased faster here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.8% in 2001 to 10.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Ipswich increased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Ipswich, Eastof England and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

Ipswich saw Eastof England's third-largest fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

In 2011, just over 1 in 20 (5.1%) in Ipswich said their health was bad or very bad, compared with 8.7% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as good or very good increased from 68.1% to 81.4%.

Across the region, only Norwich (from 9.8% to 5.7%) and Great Yarmouth (from 10.8% to 7.1%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 7.6% to 4.7%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Ipswich decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Ipswich, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Ipswich that rented privately increased from 10.7% to 19.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 21.9%, while the percentage of Ipswich households that owned their home decreased from 64.8% to 56.7%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 14.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Ipswich increased by 9.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Ipswich, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Ipswich

The percentage of Ipswich residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 25 (3.7%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.1% in 2001. The percentage of Ipswich residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.5% to 6.1%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (which remained close to 89.8%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 89.8%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

More single people in Ipswich

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Ipswich at a faster rate than in Babergh (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Ipswich).

In Ipswich, the proportion of single people increased from 31.5% in 2001 to 37.0% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Babergh increased from 23.3% to 25.5%.

Across Eastof England, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27.4% to 31.4%.

The proportion of married people in Ipswich fell from 49.0% to 43.7%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11.1% to 12.8%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Ipswich

In 2011, 4.3% of Ipswich residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 2.2% in 2001. The 2.1 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.8% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 88.9% of people in Ipswich said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 93.4% in 2001. About 3.6% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 2.3% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 1.8% to 2.3%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Ipswich increased by 2.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Ipswich by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Ipswich residents that were unemployed increased from 3.5% to 5.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57.7%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 56.8% in 2001. The percentage of Ipswich residents that were self-employed increased from 6.4% to 7.3%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Ipswich increased by 1.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Ipswich, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Ipswich working less than 16 hours increased from 1.9% to 3.0% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 11 (8.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 12.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.9% in 2001 to 2.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Ipswich increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Ipswich, Eastof England and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Ipswich residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.1% to 2.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.1%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.8% in 2001 to 2.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Ipswich remained close to 2.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Ipswich by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Ipswich with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.8% to 9.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 29.0%, while the percentage of households in Ipswich without children remained close to 61.7%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 9.3% in 2001 to 9.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

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